Toma Ketama

Best known for their two Songhai collaborations with Toumani Diabate and other West African musicians, "new flamenco" group Ketama have released numerous albums that push the boundaries of acoustic guitar-based Spanish Gypsy music. While fellow travelers the Gipsy Kings get over on raw energy, Ketama have mellowed since their aggressive early days to favor lovely harmonies, bursts of delicate guitar, and a dance floor-filling horn section. Each song is unmistakably grounded in flamenco, but the entire Latin music world is fair game as interpretations of the bolero, son montuno, samba, and salsa take wing. "Mienteme" kicks off with quavering guitar in the Moorish style of Radio Tarifa, but Antonio Carmona's warm voice instantly alleviates the austerity, a trap drum kit opens up the bottom, and before long precision sax and trumpet lines launch a party in the street. Guests include the revered Pepe Habichuela, whose guitar stabs light through "El Lago," plus Brazilian music legend Caetano Veloso on "Kanela y Menta." A drum machine and rap-flavored vocals, of all things, rear their heads on the last song, a "Miami Remix" of "Agustito," the penultimate cut on the disc. But the fun quotient is so high, even traditionalists will tap their heels. --Bob Tarte